schiller-wine: A Journey through the Rhône Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller, USA/ France

Picture: A Journey through the Rhône Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller, USA/ France

Annette Schiller led a Rhône Valley tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter). About 60 people attended the tasting (US$25). Annette poured 3 bottles/ 10 wines, both red and white, sweet and dry, from the the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône.

The tasting was heavily driven by the recent Rhône Valley tour by ombiasy WineTours: See: Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France. Noteably, we visited 4 of the 10 producers presented by Annette during the 2018 Rhône Valley tour by ombiasy WineTours. All pictures Annette showed on her powerpoint presentation were from the recent Rhône Valley tour by ombiasy WineTours, takne by me.

Pictures: A Journey through the Rhône Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller, USA/ France

The Rhône Valley

The Rhône Valley is one of the oldest wine regions in France, and the second largest after Bordeaux. The Greeks introduced viticulture in the 4th century BC. Later the Romans came and brought viticulture to a different level. Since then the world has discovered Rhône wines and some of the most famous wines come from the Rhône Valley.

The vineyards are located on both sides of the river. The Rhône Valley is divided into two distinctively different regions: the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône. The Northern Rhône stretches for 60 miles from Vienne – south of Lyon – to Valence, and produces just 5% of Rhône wines.

Pictures: A Journey through the Rhône Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller, USA/ France

The region has a continental climate with pronounced seasons. The soils are granitic and schistous and the vineyards are located on very steep terraced slopes. The red grape of the Northern Rhône is 100% Syrah. Depending on the appellation the red wines are often blended with 5 – 20% of the white varietals Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne.

As the Rhône river flows southward and the valley widens the climate changes. It becomes more Mediterranean with long, warm summers and mild winters. Here we find the big brother of the Northern Rhône, the Southern Rhône wine region which accounts for 95% of the production and with Grenache being the principal variety in most red wine blends. There also is Syrah, Mourvèdre, ( “GSM” blends) and a variety of other red and white grapes. The landscape is much flatter than in the north and a variety of soils can be found: alluvial soils, limestone subsoils, sand, gravel, stones. We will taste the entire range of Rhône wines: reds, whites, rosé, sweet, fortified wines. It is so difficult to choose which wine estate to visit since there are many great producers. We selected top estates of different price points, from top-rated well-known expensive wines to budget friendly, excellent, unknown wines of small producers.